23/01/10

The Vikings completed the double against their Fylde opponents with a well deserved win at the Woodlands Memorial Ground. The visitors got off to the perfect start with a sweeping backs move that allowed skipper McAllister to go over in the corner.

In a frantic first half both sides seemed keen to blow away the cobwebs of the weather-enforced layoff. With the Vikings again on the attack, a forced pass popped up into the hands of a Fylde defender who was able to streak away for the score. Then further trouble for the Vikings as a rare defensive lapse allowed Fylde in for a try.

At the turnaround the Vikings were again under pressure conceding a penalty that Fylde duly kicked to extend their lead.

Then the Vikings pack as it had threatened to do in the first half took control. A series of pick and drives demoralised and drove back the Fylde eight. Pennington was the first to profit muscling his way over following some excellent interplay from the forwards. Then from good quick ball Miller fed Ecclestone to power his through to give the visitors the lead. With the Vikings now firmly in the ascendancy, a fine away win was capped by scrum half Tennant who showed an impressive turn of pace leaving defenders in his wake, to extend the winning margin.

Bolton, Warburton, Bolton;  Pennington, Smith;   Griffiths, Hartley, Manning;   Hirst, Miller;   McAllister, Birchall, Armistead, Jones;   Tennant.

Replacements: – Houghton, Varnstone.

12/12/09

The Vikings took this opportunity to avenge an early season defeat at the hands of the visitors. With both sides making a tentative start on a heavy pitch it was left to the reliable boot of Melville to break the deadlock with a well-struck penalty, the only score of the half.

After the break the Vikings upped the pace, sensing a slender looking three-point lead would not be enough to keep the dangerous looking visitors at bay.  Feeding off good ball standoff Miller probed; eventually finding Tom Smith to crash over for his first try. Then good pressure from Harris resulted in the youngster going in under the posts for a well-taken opportunist try.

Bolton then rallied scoring from a well-worked tap penalty. With the game still in the balance the Vikings pinned the visitors back in their own half at every opportunity. Smith again took matters into his own hands, barging his way over to score his second try in a man of the match performance.

Now playing with confidence, the Vikings scoring spree had not finished; McAllister’s perfectly weighted pass released winger Jones who finished well in the corner on the final whistle.

Vikings:   Bolton, Smith, Bolton;   Foxcroft, Smith;   Turton, Willacey, Pennington;   Harris, Miller;   Houghton, McAllister, Cowper, Jones;   Melville.

 Replacements: – Batty, Ecclestone, Hartley, Warburton.

05/12/09

 The Vikings returned to winning ways in a keenly fought contest on the crematorium pitch. However it was the visitors who took the lead with a well-struck penalty in the 5^th minute.

John Cowper chasing down his opponent

 The Vale forwards then gained the upper hand with Foxcroft dominating at the lineout and prominent in the loose; his fellow forwards responded with a number of powerful surges resulting in well-taken tries for Paul Bolton and Gary Pennington.

Skipper Macca tussling for the ball

 After the break the scoring continued, Paul Bolton and Mark Bolton stretching the Vale lead. Debutant Tennant who had been a thorn in Eden’s side all afternoon, showed blistering pace to score a tremendous solo try.

Vikings on the defensive

Replacement Batty then got in on the act, showing good poaching instincts to cap an excellent win for the Vikings.

Vikings:    Ecclestone, Willacy, Bolton;   Foxcroft, Smith;   Hartley Birchall, Pennington;   Hill, Miller;   McAllister, Tennant, Cowper, Jones;   Melville.

Replacements: – Batty, Bolton, Withers, Houghton, Billingham.

21/11/09

Raging Bull Trophy Round 1 

Despite the abnormally high level of unavailability’s and injuries within the club, the Vikings travelled south to Cheshire with a strong looking side, thanks in no small part to the efforts of skipper McAllister.

In difficult conditions the home side were first into their stride, a defensive lapse at the lineout allowed the dangerous looking Bowden backs to breakaway and score under the posts.

Credit to the Vikings who then restricted their hosts and made better use of the prevailing wind, the boot of Harris instrumental in pinning Bowden back.

Playing into the gale second half the Vikings upped the pace, Pennington made ground at the base of the scrum enabling the visitors to exert some pressure. Melville struck a well-taken penalty to ensure a tense finish.

An opportunity to snatch a win then presented itself, Jones stepped the cover to release the galloping Pennington, a desperate defensive hand ensured the pass went to ground and the Vikings exited the cup.

 Ecclestone, Smith, Bolton:  Acton, Foxcroft:  Hardwick, Pennington, Manning: Hill, Harris: McAllister, O’Donnell, Ancliffe, Jones:  Melville.

Miller Homes Division 3(N)

14/11/09 

Pendle 1st  10  -  11  Vale of Lune 3rds

The Vikings travelled to Pendle to meet a Pendle side flying high in the League and only having lost one game.

On a heavy ground the Vale playing with the wind got the best of the early exchanges.

After 20 minutes a good handling move through the backs resulted in Liam Houghton touching down for the first points.

Five minutes later a good position was obtained for Aaron Melville to drop a goal to put the Vikings further ahead and give a half time score of  0  -  8 to the visitors.

After half time a spell of heavy pressure from Pendle resulted in them pulling back 3 points with a penalty.

An excellent threequarter move from Pendle ended with their fullback going under the posts for a fine try which was converted to put them in the lead at 10  -  8.

Not giving up the Vikings battled back to the Pendle end to earn a well deserved penalty which Melville put over to give the Vikings back the lead.

It was now backs to the wall but the Vikings held out gamely for the last quarter to secure a fine victory and so becoming the Team of the Week in the Miller Homes Leagues.

Team:  P Bolton,  P Warburton,  M Bolton;  T Hardwick,  A Foxcroft;  J Hartley,  L Griffiths,  G Pennington;  J Antcliffe,           A Miller;  P McAllister (Capt),  E Rigby,  J Birchall,  L Houghton;                A Melville;

Replacement;  P Batty;   on for M Bolton at half time.

R. R.